Air Traffic controllers threaten strike action

180 air traffic controllers are threatening to strike unless 13 of their fellow workers are given their jobs back. In addition, the controllers are asking for an end to what they feel is ‘repression and mistreatment’ by the director and other officers of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC).

Following a meeting of the Dominican Confederation of Dominican Workers, the Dominican Association of Air Traffic Controllers (ADCA) warned of heightened safety and security risks to Dominican airspace should they strike.

According to Wellington Almonte, president of ADCA, the controllers would intensify the fight due to the intransigent attitude of the authorities in following through with a plan to privatize air traffic control, which they say is the brainchild of the director of IDAC, Alejandro Herrera and other officers, politicians and important experts from the private sector.

Almonte went on to say that they were not asking for pay raises, rather only that IDAC respect their human rights, protected under the Constitution. He said that the director of IDAC had refused to enter into talks with the controllers for over a year and that had contributed to the deterioration of the working environment, that it has been worsened with the citing of violations, threats, suspensions and dismissals of the members of ADCA.

Along with Herrera. Almonte implicated the Deputy Director, Santiago Rosa Martinez, and Bolivar Leon Paulino, director of Air Navigation (DINA) in the campaign to weaken the controllers.

He highlighted one of their actions demonstrating an abuse of power was the dismissal of 12 members of ADCA in Feburary, including the president of the association, the vice president, the Finance Secretary, Josue Perez, and eight other members of the board.

He called on President Danilo Medina to intervene to put an end to the situation and order the initiation of talks.